Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Proposal To Centralize Florida Driver's License Issuance Defeated

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Floridians will still be able to obtain their driver's licenses and ID cards from their local tax collector's office after a proposal to centralize the processing of driver's licenses by mail was shot down due to heavy political opposition.

"Over the last year, with the current contract for driver license and identification card (DL/ID) issuance expiring,
the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Department) and Florida Tax Collectors, have worked
together to explore all available options and review emerging technologies in which these credentials can be
issued to our customers," the Florida DMV said in a statement approved by Florida tax collectors.

"Customer service and convenience is a hallmark of Florida’s current system and while central issuance has
some distinct advantages in terms of card security, the inability to obtain a credential on-demand in an office is
not something either the Department and Florida Tax Collectors are willing to forgo. We have determined that
the central issuance model would not enhance customer service and could be perceived as an inconvenience.
For this reason, the Department and Florida Tax Collectors have jointly decided to proceed with producing a
new DL/ID card that will continue being provided as an on-demand point-of-sale DL/ID credential with as
many enhanced security and anti-fraud features as possible for our customers."

The centralized proposal would have expanded the role of private vendors to issue driver's licenses.